Cancer and illnesses that are related to cancer are challenging and emotional, however, the impact these challenges can have on the overall well-being of both patients and their loved ones are not typically wholly addressed by Western approaches to medical care.
What is Integrated Oncology?
Integrative oncology combines both ‘Eastern’ and ‘Western’ methods to study and treat cancer in adults and children. This approach is suitable for the treatment of a range of adult cancers, including blood cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. Similarly, this treatment approach is suited to a number of common paediatric cancers, including neuroblastoma, leukaemia, osteosarcoma and other bone cancers, and retinoblastoma.
It is clear that ‘Western’ forms of cancer treatment, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery can offer hugely positive outcomes. However, they do still have their limitations, and many patients experience a variety of side effects throughout their treatment plan.
Integrated Oncology and Family Wellbeing
In addition to using an integrative approach to medicine in order to provide the best treatment options for every patient, this method also seeks to enhance the well-being of the patient’s family positively. Family members can experience a plethora of emotions when a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis, which can significantly impact their overall quality of life.
Integrative oncology offers a variety of psychological and holistic treatments, all of which aim to improve the physical and mental health of the entire family affected by cancer.
Integrated Oncology and Holistic Treatments
Many patients undergoing integrated oncology treatments experience significant quality of life improvements after receiving mistletoe and/or high dose vitamin C IV infusions. Importantly, however, each plan must be tailored to the individual because certain treatments will naturally provide better outcomes than others. Additionally, every person’s medical history will be reviewed and treatments will be recommended accordingly.
Integrated Oncology and Emotional Wellbeing
Integrated oncology utilises a range of person-centred practices, which can support traditional Western medical treatments, minimise side effects, and support emotional resilience during what can be one of the most worrying periods of life.
Qualified and experienced psychologists work with patients and their loved ones to understand each person’s emotional and spiritual needs to create a bespoke care programme which exploits the power of safe and compatible complementary treatments.
Lifestyle management tactics can also be integrated into a care programme, including self-care routines that can help patients and their families to stay resilient even during the most trying times. Even the smallest things can make a huge difference during cancer treatment and recovery, which is why adopting this type of holistic approach to treatment can be the most effective way to care for both a person’s physical and mental health.